Coach Seydou Zerbo has left Asante Kotoko following Sunday’s humiliating home defeat to Medeama SC in a match-day 23 fixture of the 2022/23 betPawa Ghana Premier League (GPL).
The Burkinabe leaves the Porcupine Warriors after exactly 7 months and a week (219 days) in charge.
“Management of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club and Coach Seydou Zerbo have this morning mutually agreed to part ways,” a club statement read Monday.
Youth team boss Abdulai Gazale has been placed in caretaker charge.
“Coach Abdul Gazale has been tasked to take charge as Acting Head Coach,” the Kotoko statement said.
Club Notice 📜
Management of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club and Coach Seydou Zerbo have this morning mutually agreed to part ways.
Coach Abdul Gazale has been tasked to take charge as Acting Head Coach.#AKSC #FabuCensus pic.twitter.com/u0IIB80eGa
— Asante Kotoko SC – 21/22 GPL Champions🥇 (@AsanteKotoko_SC) March 27, 2023
The final straw for Zerbo’s tenure with the reigning league champions was his first home defeat in the GPL – 2-0 on Sunday. He had just returned to the dugout after a timeout in his native Burkina Faso following the passing of his son a couple of weeks ago.
After an early exit from the Caf Champions League and subsequent Round of 16 elimination by Aduana FC from the MTN FA Cup, faith in Seydou Zerbo’s capability of leading Kotoko to a successful league title defence began to erode within the club’s rank and file.
Footy-Ghana sources indicate that Zerbo, having that incline, initiated the mutual separation Sunday night. According to his contract, the coach will receive a one-month salary payoff, our sources said.
Seydou Zerbo leaves with Asante Kotoko currently sitting sixth in the GPL standings with 34 points and a game in hand. In 22 games, they have won 9, drawn 7 and lost 6 times.
